Emma is a coach who specialises in empowering young people and teams to build confidence, clarity and a vision for their future. She has worked with Inclusive Futures since its launch in 2020, contributing as a coach, facilitator and as a skilled designer of learning opportunities that engage, challenge and inspire. Emma is deeply motivated by the mission of improving social mobility, and her work is grounded in the belief that every young person deserves the tools and support to shape a future that feels possible and exciting. 

Before becoming a coach, Emma spent almost a decade as a primary teacher and leader, designing meaningful learning experiences that helped pupils thrive. Her core ethos—supporting people to make choices that feel right for them—has shaped both her education and coaching careers. 

Emma loves working with individuals, groups and teams to bring direction, purpose and understanding. Her coaching style focuses on deepening self-awareness, clarifying future goals and exploring new possibilities so clients can take confident, meaningful action. 

She holds a Level 5 Diploma in Personal Performance Coaching from The Coaching Academy, is a certified NLP Practitioner, and is accredited in the GC Index and YPI, both of which underpin many Inclusive Futures programmes. 

Rose is an experienced, empathetic and outcomes-focussed Coach and facilitator, with over 500 hours of coaching experience gained from over 8 years of Coaching. 

Rose not only encourages the people and teams she works with to think about and identify outcomes at a strategic level, but to consider and validate just how much they positively contribute to their professional and personal lives. 

With Diplomas in Personal Performance Coaching and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) her experience and insights come from a range of sectors and areas including Social Care, EDI, EdTech, Education and Product Management. With a focus on building client confidence and self-belief, Rose achieves fundamental internal and external change for the individuals she coaches. Her practical insight and strategic focus help her to spot the potential within clients and to encourage them to think bigger, move outside their comfort zones and achieve more than they had previously considered. She has delivered executive coaching for senior leadership at organisations including UCAS, University of Bristol, IMEX, Winbox and Jisc. 

Jess Woodsford is an experienced coach, facilitator and trainer with a strong commitment to social justice, social inclusion and improving equality of opportunity. Her work focuses on empowering individuals and organisations to develop inclusive leadership, create cultural change and support people to reach their potential. 
 
Jess has over 15 years of experience in the higher education sector, specialising in fair access and participation. She previously worked as Head of Programmes at the Office for Fair Access and later at the Office for Students, including as Director of the SEER (Specialist Evidence, Evaluation and Research) service supporting higher education providers to understand and evidence their impact. 
 
As a personal leadership and executive coach, Jess works with students, senior leaders, aspiring leaders and social entrepreneurs, providing challenge, support and practical tools to help them develop themselves and their ideas. 

Nick is an ICF PCC credentialled coach, facilitator, and trainer with over five years’ experience delivering ICF accredited coach training and approaching 1,000 hours of coaching experience. 

With a background in secondary education, including international teaching experience, Nick has a genuine understanding of the pressures and dynamics that educators and school leaders navigate every day. This, combined with his experience delivering coaching skills training within schools and to educators more broadly, makes him a natural fit for organisations looking to embed a coaching culture in an educational setting. 

Nick works with senior leaders, aspiring leaders, and early career professionals, supporting them to find clarity, build confidence, and move forward with purpose. His relaxed but professional style creates a safe, open environment where clients feel comfortable exploring the challenges and ambitions that matter most to them. 

Afua Kudom is a certified personal performance and life coach, educator and speaker, committed to helping people build meaningful careers defined on their own terms. Through her coaching and consultancy work, she helps ambitious individuals make intentional, values-led career decisions with confidence and clarity.  
 
Afua is the founder of Sambamba Consulting and Coaching,  which delivers career planning and management services, skills workshops and personal and professional development programmes to university students and graduates. She also works as a freelance Careers Consultant in Higher Education and is the founder of the Pivot & Progress 1-1 coaching programme, which helps professional women pivot into values-driven, financially sustainable freelance careers without the guesswork and overwhelm.  
 
Afua brings a wealth of expertise in coaching, education and career planning.

Helen Thomas-Hughes is an Associate Professor in Community-Engaged Research and Pedagogy and Director for Education, Interdisciplinary Research Training and Development across the University of Bristol’s Research Institutes. 
 
Helen specialises in co-produced and participatory research methods for social change, with expertise in developing inclusive research practices and meaningful collaboration between universities, communities and public organisations. She designs and delivers research training focused on co-production, interdisciplinary approaches and inclusive research environments. 
 
Before entering academia, Helen spent over a decade in the third sector delivering evidence-based parenting programmes, family support and education interventions with diverse communities. This experience continues to inform her equity-focused approach to research, education and leadership.

Gavin Deane is a recognised leader in further education and apprenticeship training, with over 25 years’ experience championing innovation, inclusion and authentic leadership. As the founder of an Ofsted Outstanding Apprenticeship Training Provider, he has helped transform vocational education through accessible, high-quality online and blended learning. 
 
Beginning his own career as an apprentice, Gavin is a passionate advocate for widening participation, social mobility and creating environments where everyone can thrive. Drawing on his lived experience as a neurodivergent leader, he champions inclusive practices that unlock potential and improve outcomes for learners, employers and organisations alike. 
 

Alongside leading his organisation, Gavin is a respected voice in further education, apprenticeships and workforce development, regularly contributing to national conversations on skills, lifelong learning and the future of education.